Page 25 of My Secret Duke
“No, I wouldn’t,” Olivia declared fiercely.
“Not even Justina?”
Justina was still sulking from last night, when Olivia had dragged her away from Charles’s kisses, and so far, Olivia’s attempts to repair their relationship had been rebuffed. Just when Olivia needed her favorite sister most, Justina had absented herself.
Vivienne broke into her reverie. “Do you really want to marry Prince Nikolai? You know you don’t have to. Gabriel would never allow your grandmother to force you into a marriage you did not want.”
Olivia looked at her in surprise. Surely Vivienne wasn’t agreeing with Ivo? “But Idowant to marry him. Don’t you see? It would be the solution to everything.”
And yet Vivienne still looked as if she wasn’t convinced. “Surely not everything?”
Olivia ignored her question and asked one of her own. “What is it like, to be married?”
Vivienne smiled in a soft, dreamy sort of way. “It’s wonderful,” she said. “Well, it is if you love the person you are married to.”
“Not everyone can find a person they love.”
“You won’t if you don’t look.”
Olivia thought about responding, but what was the point. Vivienne didn’t understand, and Olivia was tired of explaining. Instead, she suggested they begin replacing the candles in their sconces, and the two of them started their new task in silence.
Olivia refused to feel depressed. A moment ago, she had been full of hope for her chosen future. She reminded herself that a great many people didn’t love their marriage partners. They married because of other reasons, and surely it was better not to love your partner too much anyway. There were just too many ways to hurt one’s beloved and make them miserable, and Olivia hadalready seen enough of that in her life. Her grandmother had the right idea. Marry for position and wealth, and then live in comfort for the rest of your life.
Then why did the words ring so hollow? Why did she feel as if she had somehow or other stepped off onto the wrong path?
Supper was served on a tray to her room. She was already dressed for the ball because the maid was run off her feet, and Olivia had offered to be first. Her gown was white, plain but elegant, one of those made by Madame Annabelle, the modiste for Olivia’s London Season. Due to that Season being cut short, it had never been worn. Her hair was dressed simply too, with some fresh flowers tucked in among the dark locks, while a single strand of pearls encircled her throat. Unlike her coming-out in May, tonight was all about Gabriel and Vivienne, and she was quite happy to stand back and allow them to be the center of attention.
Once the maid had gone, she took a bite of her supper, and had barely swallowed the first mouthful when there was a tap on the door. Before she could call out, a note was pushed beneath it, and light footsteps hurried away.
Olivia knelt to retrieve the slip of paper and opened it.
Meet me at the archery targets at seven o’clock. I have something of great importance to ask you.And it was signed,Niki.
Niki? As in Prince Nikolai? But why…? And thenshe read it again.I have something of great importance to ask you.
Could this be what she had been hoping for? Hehadbeen very attentive at lunch. And yet it seemed too sudden. Too soon. And definitely too casual for the prince. His proposal would be formal, a stilted recital of his desire to make her his wife, and what he expected from her. Olivia read the note again. She did not even know Nikolai’s writing to compare. And yet why would someone else send her such a note? Could her refusal to stroll with the prince this morning really have stung him into action? Olivia wished she could talk to Justina, ask what she thought, but Justina wasn’t speaking to her.
She had to go. It was already nearly seven o’clock, and the ball was due to start at eight. She could not be late for that, but if Prince Nikolai—or Niki, as she must learn to call him—was asking her to marry him, then what would being late to the ball matter?
Her mind made up, she found her cloak and wrapped it about her. She tucked her gloves into the pocket just in case she couldn’t return to her room in time. But surely she wouldn’t be gone that long? Not that anyone would notice, they were all so busy. As she quickly descended the stairs, she tried to ignore the slightly sick feeling in her stomach. Olivia prepared a story about needing to find a maid to sew on a button, but it was unnecessary—she didn’t meet anyone. Soon she was making her way along the path through the garden in the direction of the targets. The sky was turning pink and mauve, and as she passed through the perennial border with its scented flowers, there were moths flitting from plant to plant. A bird shrieked and flew up into its tree, which gave her a start. There was another rustle from somewhere behind her, butwhen she spun around and peered into the shadows, there was nothing to be seen. A fox, she thought, or a hare.
The fright had made her breath come quickly, and she wondered again whether she was doing the right thing. Too late to change her mind now, she was nearly at the archery targets, and yet she lingered. It was as if… as if she didn’t want to do this. Didn’t want to take that irrevocable step. Which was ridiculous because marriage to the prince was now her goal. Love was all very well, but Olivia was not Vivienne.
Quickening her steps, she turned the bend in the path. Nearly there now. Despite the shadows that stretched long across the lawn where the archery targets were still set up, she could see a figure standing there. Waiting.
Niki?
Her steps stuttered as the man turned to face her. Because this wasn’t Prince Nikolai after all. It was the Duke of Northam.
Chapter Twelve
He was formally dressed, although he had removed his tailed coat. He had also forgone the cream breeches worn on formal occasions for a pair of pantaloons, which displayed to advantage the shape of his legs. His fair hair was pomaded into a Brutus, but the plain style suited him, and his face was cleanly shaven above his perfectly tied cravat. There was a jeweled pin in the snowy white cloth which twinkled in the evening light.
He was very handsome.
And she must be in shock, because this was not the moment to be cataloguing Ivo’s attributes when she was meant to be meeting Niki. Unless…
“You did this!” Olivia shouted furiously. “You want to ruin my life!”
